How to Make Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil is commercially made by pressing hemp seeds to extract their oil. This video shows a commercial seed press extracting black onion seed oil - a process very similar to making hemp seed oil.

This article will show you how to make hemp seed oil at home using a manual press, which is much more affordable than a commercial machine and can also be used to extract oil from any other nuts or seeds you wish to use.

Why Make Hemp Seed Oil?

Consuming hemp seed oil is an excellent way to incorporate hemp seeds into your diet, and gain the multitude of health benefits they offer.

Hemp seeds are ideal for oil production because they contain a tremendous amount of healthy polyunsaturated fats, including an i﻿deal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids that protect your cardiovascular system.

Learning how to make hemp seed oil, and by extension many other oils, is a valuable skill. Pressing oil at home allows you to keep commercial additives out and makes you more self-sufficient when it comes to food preparation & nutrition.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

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Extraction Time: Varies based on press

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Makes about 80 grams of hemp seed oil

Ingredients

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4 cups shelled hemp seeds

While whole hemp seeds can be used in most presses, the hull is just extra bulk the machine will have to break down and separate from the oil. Therefore, it's easier to use shelled hemp seeds.

The exact amount you'll need will depend on how long you feel like churning away at the press. However, to justify the effort required, you'll need at least 2 cups to produce a sufficient amount of oil.

Equipment

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Home oil press

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Bottle lamp with wick

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Lamp fuel

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Lighter or matches

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Jar for oil collection

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Bowl for expelled refuse

Manual home presses are available in several places online. Some people even make their own, including this remarkable wind-powered oil press.

Most of these home machines operate by hand crank like a pasta maker. You put the seeds into a hopper on top and turn the crank. A lit bottle lamp sits underneath the press, heating the seeds and making it possible for the oil to separate.

Most presses come with the bottle and wicks, and you add fuel. Olive oil and paraffin oil are recommended.

Less common are versions that have electrical motors that provide heat to the press. Such a model can be seen making olive oil in this video.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Preparing the Press

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Unless you have a helper to hold down the press while you crank it, you'll want to secure the press to a sturdy table.

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Set up the lamp and light it.

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To allow the press to heat up, wait about ten minutes before beginning to process the hemp seeds.

2. Working the Press

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Add enough hemp seeds to fill the hopper about a third of the way, then begin turning the hand crank at a slow, even pace. Soon, drops of oil should start dripping into the collection jar.

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As the hopper empties, add more hemp seeds. Don't overload the hopper or it may clog or be too difficult to turn the crank.

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The pressed hemp seeds will come out the end of the press as dehydrated seed cake, which is no longer useful for nutrition but can be used in mulch or compost mixture.

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Continue in this way until you get the amount of hemp seed oil desired.

Here's a great video of the process, just using peanuts instead of hemp seeds.

The hemp seed oil you've produced will be dark and rich, perhaps more than you're used to from store-bought varieties.

Remember that the lighter commercial hemp seed oil is, the less of the hemp seeds' natural, healthy compounds are in it.

3. Cleanup

Like any piece of metal equipment you want to last a long time and work reliably, it's important to clean the press after every session.

This means taking the screw shaft out of the main press body and getting all the leftover debris out.

If you don't do this, it will solidify after the heat is removed and clog the machine.

By following the guide above and applying some elbow grease, you can make nutritious oils without the commercial additives.

We hope you enjoyed this guide on how to make hemp seed oil. Please let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment or question, and by kindly sharing this article.

Important Disclaimer: The information contained on Hemp Seed Health is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Any statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA and any information or products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult a healthcare practitioner before making changes to your diet or taking supplements that may interfere with medications.